Zipper for transverse direction front panel pouch

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a zipper design, with or without a leading flange, to improve front panel zipper fabrication and end use applications. The profiles of the zipper include a plurality of interlocking elements, which may include C-shaped, J-shaped or repeating male interlocking elements. In the unflanged version, a portion of the interlocking elements of one of the profiles is sealed directly to the interior of a bag on a first side of the front panel bag opening, while the base of the other profile is sealed on a second side of the front panel bag opening, aligned so that interlocking elements of one profile can interlock with interlocking elements of the other profile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a zipper design, with or without a leadingflange, to improve front panel zipper fabrication and end useapplications.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art of reclosable bags, front panel pouches are well-known.Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,453 entitled “Reclosable BagAssembly and Method of Making Same”, issued on Sep. 14, 1999 to Yeagerand U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,257 entitled “Reclosable Bag with Profile StripFastener Assembly Having Improved Opening Feature”, issued on Aug. 7,2001 to Yeager.

Likewise, in the prior art of zippers for reclosable bags, it is knownto design profiles which can interlock with similar profiles in variousdifferent alignments. Examples of this are disclosed in U.S. PatentPublication No. US-2003-0101552-A1, entitled “Variable Alignment Zipperfor Reclosable Bags”, published Jun. 5, 2003 listing inventors Eric P.Plourde and Kevin P. Olechowski and U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,215 entitled“Closure Mechanism Having a Perceptible Feedback System”, issued on Apr.17, 2001 to Tomic.

While these references disclose devices which have been satisfactory incertain respects, it is desired to obtain further improvements in frontpanel zipper fabrication and end use applications.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a zipperfor a reclosable bag which provides improvements in front panel zipperfabrication.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide azipper for a reclosable bag which provide improvements in end useapplications.

These and other objects are attained by providing a zipper which canhave a flanged or unflanged (otherwise known as webless or monotreme)embodiment. The interlocking profiles of the zipper include a series ofinterlocking elements, such as C-shaped elements terminating at bothends in an inwardly pointing hook configuration, J-shaped elements ormultiple male elements. This allows the profiles to engage each othereasily and form a strong interlocking configuration.

For use in a front panel opening bag, typically a portion of theinterlocking elements of a first profile are sealed to the interior ofthe web of the bag on a first side of the opening so that the remaininginterlocking elements face outwardly while the base of a second profileis attached to the interior of the web of the bag via a sealant layer ona second side of the opening so that the interlocking elements faceinwardly toward similar elements of the first profile. In the flangedconfiguration, it is the flange of the first profile which is bonded tothe web of the bag. In the unflanged configuration, as a portion of theinterlocking elements of the first profile is bonded to the film,material with a very high melting index is required for the profiles.

In one configuration, a peel seal is added between the profiles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and from the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the reclosable bag with an unflangedembodiment of the zipper, of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are alternative cross-sectional views of plane 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the profiles, immediately prior tointerlocking, of the unflanged embodiment of the zipper, includingC-shaped interlocking elements.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the profiles, after interlocking, ofthe unflanged embodiment of the zipper, including C-shaped interlockingelements..

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the profiles, after interlocking, ofthe flanged embodiment of the zipper, including C-shaped interlockingelements.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the profiles, after interlocking, ofa further embodiment with a single flange on each profile, includingC-shaped interlocking elements.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the profiles, after interlocking, ofa still further embodiment wherein one profile includes one flange andthe other profile includes two flanges, including C-shaped interlockingelements.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the profiles, after interlocking, ofyet a further embodiment with a single flange on each profile and a peelseal between the profiles, including C-shaped interlocking elements.

FIG. 9 shows the zipper placed on the web in the transverse directionduring manufacture.

FIGS. 3 a-8 a correspond to FIGS. 3-8, respectively, with multiple maleinterlocking elements in place of C-shaped interlocking elements.

FIGS. 3 b-8 b correspond to FIGS. 3-8, respectively, with J-shapedinterlocking elements in place of C-shaped interlocking elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer tolike elements throughout the several views, one sees that FIG. 1 is afront view of a reclosable bag 10 and that FIG. 2 is a cross-sectionalview of the bag 10. Reclosable bag 10 is formed from front panel 12 andrear panel 14 of film or web which are sealed together by a top seal 16,a bottom seal 18 and side seals 20, 22. A front opening, such as aperforated line 30 is formed on an upper portion of front panel 12 offilm or web. The user would, of course, tear the perforated line 30 togain initial access to the contents of reclosable bag 10. Perforatedline 30 could be replaced by two closely spaced perforated parallellines (not shown) in a oval-like configuration so that the opening isformed by the user removing a tear-strip of film formed between the twoclosely spaced perforated parallel lines. Additionally, the frontopening may include a thumb tab (not shown) to facilitate opening by theuser. Zipper 32 is formed from upper and lower interlocking profiles 34,36 (see FIG. 2) and provides the reclosability feature of the frontopening formed by perforated line 30. As shown in FIG. 2, a portion ofupper interlocking profile 34 is sealed to the interior of front panel12 of film or web which is immediately above the front opening formed byperforated line 30. A portion of the locking arms (describedhereinafter) of interlocking profile 34 is sealed to the film. Thisrequires that the profiles be made of very high melting index materialto facilitate bonding of the upper profile 34 to the film. Typically,upper and lower interlocking profiles 34, 36 are extruded with standardlow density polyethylene resins. The remaining portion of upperinterlocking profile 34 extends beyond the edge of film abutting theopening formed by perforated line 30. This configuration results in thelocking arms of upper interlocking profile 34 pointing outward towardthe exterior of reclosable bag 10.

The lower interlocking profile 36 includes a base (describedhereinafter) which is sealed to the interior of front panel 12 of filmor web via a sealant panel on lower interlocking profile 36. Typically,the entire base is sealed to the interior of front panel 12 of film orweb. This configuration results in the locking arms of lowerinterlocking profile 36 pointing inwardly toward the interior ofreclosable bag 10. As shown in FIG. 4, this configuration likewiseresults in the locking arms 44, 46 of upper interlocking profile 34being in position to engage the locking arms 56, 58 of lowerinterlocking profile 36.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the upper interlockingprofile 34 can be sealed into top seal 16, either with a flange (FIG. 2a) or without a flange (FIG. 2 b). Typically, upper interlocking profile34 is sealed to front panel 12 first, and then rear panel 14 issubsequently sealed thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, upper interlocking profile 34 includes upperbase 40 and upper C-shaped interlocking elements 42. Each C-shapedinterlocking element 42 includes two locking arms 44, 46 forming aC-shape. Further, locking arms 44, 46 include respective distal inwardlyextending detent hooks 48, 50 (numerals shown in FIG. 3 only).

Lower interlocking profile 36 includes lower base 52 and lower C-shapedinterlocking elements 54. Each C-shaped interlocking element 54 includestwo locking arms 56, 58 forming a C-shape. Further, locking arms 56, 58include respective distal inwardly extending detent hooks 60, 62(numerals shown in FIG. 3 only).

As shown in FIG. 4, in the interlocked configuration of interlockingelements 34, 36, one of inwardly extending detent hooks 48, 50 engageswith one of inwardly extending detent hooks 60, 62. Furthermore, theidentity of configuration of the successive C-shaped interlockingelements 42 or 54, along with the regular or even spacing thereof, onupper or lower interlocking profiles 34, 36 allows the interlockingprofiles to engage with different alignments. For instance, in FIG. 4,upper interlocking profile 34 could be moved to the right by thedistance separating the centers of two adjacent C-shaped interlockingelements 42 resulting in the engagement of all eight C-shapedinterlocking elements 54 of lower interlocking profile 36 with the eightrightmost C-shaped interlocking elements 42 of upper interlockingprofile 34.

FIG. 5 discloses an embodiment wherein upper interlocking element 34includes flange 64. With this embodiment, flange 64 would be sealed tothe interior of front panel 12 of film or web which is immediately abovethe front opening formed by perforated line 30 thereby exposing all ofupper C-shaped interlocking elements 42 for engagement with lowerC-shaped interlocking elements 54.

FIG. 6 discloses an embodiment with flange 64 on upper interlockingelement and flange 70 formed by an extension of lower base 52.

FIG. 7 discloses an embodiment with flanges 64 and 70 as disclosed inFIG. 6 and further including flange 80 formed on an end of lower base 52opposite to that of flange 70.

Typically, the width of any of flanges 64, 70, 80 would be less than thewidth of the body of the zipper, which is defined as the total width ofthe zipper which includes the C-shaped interlocking elements 42, 54.

FIG. 8 discloses an embodiment with a peal seal 90 between upper andlower interlocking profiles 34, 36. Peal seal 90 is typically configuredto be immediately inwardly adjacent to the perforated line 30 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 a-8 a correspond to FIGS. 3-8, respectively, with multiple maleinterlocking elements 142, formed from post 144 and enlarged detent head146 at a distal end of post 144 (numerals shown on FIG. 3 a only), inplace of C-shaped interlocking elements 42.

FIGS. 3 b-8 b correspond to FIGS. 3-8, respectively, with J-shapedinterlocking elements 242, formed from post 244 and locking hook 246 ata distal end of post 244 (numerals shown on FIG. 3 b only), in place ofC-shaped interlocking elements 42.

In all of these embodiments, during manufacture, typically, the zippers32 are placed in the transverse direction on the web 100 as shown inFIG. 9.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are mosteffectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should beunderstood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and itsscope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

1. A zipper for reclosable bags, comprising: a first interlockingprofile, including a first base and first interlocking elementsextending therefrom; a second interlocking profile, including a secondbase and second interlocking elements extending therefrom; wherein saidfirst and second bases are free of flanges; a portion of saidinterlocking elements of said first interlocking element are intended tobe sealed to an interior of the reclosable bag on a first side of anopening of the reclosable bag; and wherein said base of said secondinterlocking element is intended to be sealed to an interior of thereclosable bag on a second side of an opening of the reclosable bag,said second side being opposite to said first side.
 2. The zipper ofclaim 1 wherein said first and second interlocking elements are C-shapedand comprised of two locking arms, distal ends of said locking armsincluding inwardly extending detent hooks.
 3. The zipper of claim 1wherein said first and second interlocking elements are male lockingelements with a post and an enlarged head at the distal end of saidpost.
 4. The zipper of claim 1 wherein said first and secondinterlocking elements are J-shaped and comprised of a post and a hook ata distal end of said post.
 5. The zipper of claim 1 wherein said firstand second interlocking profiles are made from very high melting indexmaterial to facilitate bonding to the film of the reclosable bag.
 6. Thezipper of claim 1 wherein said first and second interlocking profilesare made from low density polyethylene.
 7. The zipper of claim 1 whereinsaid interlocking elements are regularly spaced along said bases toallow for variations in alignment of said first and second profiles inan interlocked configuration.
 8. A reclosable bag, comprising; front andrear walls formed from a web; a line of weakness in said front wallwhich can be torn in order to provide an opening; a zipper which canreclose said opening; said zipper including a first interlockingprofile, including a first base and first interlocking elementsextending therefrom and a second interlocking profile, including asecond base and second interlocking elements extending therefrom;wherein said first and second bases are free of flanges; wherein aportion of said interlocking elements of said first interlocking elementare sealed to an interior of the reclosable bag on a first side of saidline of weakness; and wherein said base of said second interlockingelement is sealed to an interior of the reclosable bag on a second sideof said line of weakness, said second side being opposite to said firstside.
 9. The reclosable bag of claim 8 wherein said first and secondinterlocking elements are C-shaped and comprised of two locking arms,distal ends of said locking arms including inwardly extending detenthooks.
 10. The reclosable bag of claim 8 wherein said first and secondinterlocking elements are male locking elements with a post and anenlarged head at the distal end of said post.
 11. The reclosable bag ofclaim 8 wherein said first and second interlocking elements are J-shapedand comprised of a post and a hook at a distal end of said post.
 12. Thereclosable bag of claim 8 wherein said first and second interlockingprofiles are made from very high melting index material to facilitatebonding to the film of the reclosable bag.
 13. The reclosable bag ofclaim 8 wherein said first and second interlocking profiles are madefrom low density polyethylene.
 14. The reclosable bag of claim 8 whereinsaid interlocking elements are regularly spaced along said bases toallow for variations in alignment of said first and second profiles inan interlocked configuration.
 15. The reclosable bag of claim 8 whereinsaid first interlocking profile is sealed to said rear wall.
 16. Azipper for reclosable bags, comprising: a first interlocking profile,including a first base and first interlocking elements extendingtherefrom; a second interlocking profile, including a second base andsecond interlocking elements extending therefrom; said firstinterlocking profile including a flange; wherein said interlockingelements are regularly spaced along said bases to allow for variationsin alignment of said first and second profiles in an interlockedconfiguration; wherein said flange is intended to be sealed to aninterior of the reclosable bag on a first side of an opening of thereclosable bag; wherein said base of said second interlocking element isintended to be sealed to an interior of the reclosable bag on a secondside of an opening of the reclosable bag, said second side beingopposite to said first side; and wherein a width of said at least oneflange is less than a width of said interlocking profiles wherein saidinterlocking elements are formed.
 17. The zipper of claim 16 whereinsaid first and second interlocking elements are C-shaped and comprisedof two locking arms, distal ends of said locking arms including inwardlyextending detent hooks.
 18. The zipper of claim 16 wherein said firstand second interlocking elements are male locking elements with a postand an enlarged head at the distal end of said post.
 19. The zipper ofclaim 16 wherein said first and second interlocking elements areJ-shaped and comprised of a post and a hook at a distal end of saidpost.
 20. The zipper of claim 16 wherein said first and secondinterlocking profiles are made from low density polyethylene.
 21. Thezipper of claim 16 wherein said second interlocking profile includes atleast one flange.
 22. The zipper of claim 16 further including a peelseal between said first and second interlocking profiles.
 23. Areclosable bag, comprising; front and rear walls formed from a web; aline of weakness in said front wall which can be torn in order toprovide an opening; a zipper which can reclose said opening; said zipperincluding a first interlocking profile, including a first base and firstinterlocking elements extending therefrom and a second interlockingprofile, including a second base and second interlocking elementsextending therefrom; said first interlocking profile including a flange;wherein said interlocking elements are regularly spaced along said basesto allow for variations in alignment of said first and second profilesin an interlocked configuration; wherein said flange is sealed to aninterior of the reclosable bag on a first side of an opening of thereclosable bag; wherein said base of said second interlocking element issealed to an interior of the reclosable bag on a second side of anopening of the reclosable bag, said second side being opposite to saidfirst side; and wherein a width of said at least one flange is less thana width of said interlocking profiles wherein said interlocking elementsare formed.
 24. The reclosable bag of claim 23 wherein said first andsecond interlocking elements are C-shaped and comprised of two lockingarms, distal ends of said locking arms including inwardly extendingdetent hooks.
 25. The reclosable bag of claim 23 wherein said first andsecond interlocking elements are male locking elements with a post andan enlarged head at the distal end of said post.
 26. The reclosable bagof claim 23 wherein said first and second interlocking elements areJ-shaped and comprised of a post and a hook at a distal end of saidpost.
 27. The reclosable bag of claim 23 wherein said first and secondinterlocking profiles are made from low density polyethylene.
 28. Thereclosable bag of claim 23 wherein said second interlocking profileincludes at least one flange.
 29. The reclosable bag of claim 23 furtherincluding a peel seal between said first and second interlockingprofiles.
 30. The reclosable bag of claim 23 wherein said first profileis sealed to said rear wall.